If Fulham’s display against Liverpool was eyebrow-raising and energetic, this performance against relegation rivals Brighton and Hove Albion looked a little listless. In one respect that was understandable given the energy levels needed to stay with the reigning and, while Scott Parker’s charges were rather limited in the final third, the Whites head coach will be delighted with a second clean sheet of the season that has lifted his team back out of the relegation zone.
Parker stuck rigidly to the formula that has delivered a dramatic improvement in defensive durability over the past fortnight. He made just one change from the eleven that might consider themselves unfortunate not to have beaten Jurgen Klopp’s men on Sunday, reinstating Harrison Reed into Fulham’s midfield instead of Mario Lemina. Defences were definitely on top in a game of few clear-cut chances and Joachim Anderson, captain again in the continued absence of Tom Cairney, was a commanding figure at the heart of Fulham’s well-drilled back five.
Brighton were much more defensively sound that during their last outing, where they shipped goals at an alarming rate against Leicester, with Graham Potter’s six changes, including the surprising omission of first-choice goalkeeper Matt Ryan. Robert Sanchez wasn’t called upon too frequently but he produced two key saves at the end of both halves: the first showcasing his agility as he turned over a snapshot from Ivan Cavaleiro and the second his bravery, diving at the feet of Ademola Lookman after the winger had linked up impressively with Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Albion were on the front foot for most of the evening. The lively Tariq Lamptey won an all-action battle of the wing-backs with Antonee Robinson and almost fashioned an opening goal just before the half hour. The former Chelsea full-back burst down the right flank and flashed a dangerous low ball across the six-yard box, with Danny Welbeck narrowly failing to make contact. Alphonese Areola was only extended by ambitious efforts from long-range by Lewis Dunk and Yves Bissouma and a looping cross-shot from Solly March, whilst Fulham struggled to find spaces between the Brighton back three. Their best moment arrived on the stroke of half-time when Cavaleiro, a willing worker on scraps up top, spun and shot from the right edge of the area, extending Sanchez into a fingertip save.
Potter’s side penned Fulham back for long periods at the start of the second period, winning a succession of corners. Dunk went close from one of them seeing a header clawed away by Areola before improvising a finish from the rebound while laying on the turf and there was an even bigger let-off for the hosts from Albion’s very next move. March sent in a cross that Welbeck tried and failed to convert, with the loose ball breaking for Adam Lallana to roll what he thought was a first Brighton goal into the far corner. The former Liverpool midfielder looked offside, but before a ruling could be made on that by the video assistant referee, it became clear that Welbeck had handled the ball as he tried to turn it goalwards.
The Fulham goal was now leading a charmed life but there was one more moment of fortune to come. Potter’s men continued to threaten from set plays and Adam Webster powered a header against the crossbar from a Leandro Trossard corner, only for the ball to bounce down and away to safety. The Whites looked laboured – and about ready to crack. It was to their immense credit that they didn’t cave in. Lemina added some timely bite in midfield and they could have stolen a late winner of their own.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek will feel he should have done better than shoot straight at Sanchez after an untimely Webster slip left him through on goal, whilst Mitrovic – belatedly introduced with a quarter of an hour to play – immediately gave a glimpse of what Fulham had been missing, going close with a header that seemed to flick off Ben White, even though the referee awarded a goal kick. The Serbian striker supplied a clever header to offer Lookman a sight of goal, but Sanchez blocked his first effort and gamely went in to claim the rebound as he was clattered by the RB Leipzig loanee.
A stalemate probably suited both managers by the end, even if it ended Fulham’s remarkable run of 196 competitive fixtures without a goalless draw at Craven Cottage, a sequence that stretches back some nine years. The point lifts Parker’s men above Burnley and out of the bottom three – with Sean Dyche’s men and Sheffield United due to play tomorrow – and offers further evidence that Fulham might have found an answer to the defensive difficulties that bedevilled their return to the top flight. In these grim times, that’s at least something worth smiling about.
FULHAM (5-2-3): Areola; Decordova-Reid (Kamara 62), Robinson, Aina, Anderson, Adarabioyo; Reed (Lemina 62), Anguissa; Loftus-Cheek (Mitrovic 76), Lookman, Cavaleiro. Subs (not used): Rodak, Odoi, Ream, Cairney.
BOOKED: Robinson.
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION (3-4-2-1): Sanchez; White, Dunk, Webster; Lamptey (Veltman 79), March, Alzate, Bissouma; Lallana (Gross 86), Trossard (Jahanbakhsh 79); Welbeck. Subs (not used): Steele, Burn, Maupay, Connolly.
REFEREE: Rob Jones (Cheshire).
VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREE: Andy Madley (Huddersfield).
Thank you Dan! At least you can see what Parker cannot when it comes to Mitro.
Dreadful game overall, but the perfect type of game for Mitro to thrive in, IMO. Wrong choice at center forward AGAIN Parker. Cavaleiro is out of position, Kamara(comes on for our leading scorer) is a waste of a substitute. I think Cairney should have also been in this game to stabilize the midfield and distribute the ball. Mitro needs to be on the pitch at center forward, or please for his sake and for his loyalty to the club, SELL HIM! PLEASE!
P.S. Cav now has a sizzling goal record of 1 in 30 matches, and that was a PK.
Strange one tonight. Was quite worried for a lot of the game that Brighton would overwhelm us – and it looked like happening in the second half when they were forcing all those corners. We actually came out of that period pretty well and showed a bit more towards the end.
Parker has some selection issues to resolve. I’m not overly convinced about Loftus-Cheek being a regular starter and Cavaleiro doesn’t do enough to be an out and out front man for me. In games like this where we should be looking to keep hold out of the ball, it is surprising that Cairney doesn’t feature. Will be interesting to see how we line up against Newcastle.
Mike – I think Decordova-Reid was injured, but I agree I wasn’t all that comfortable with Kamara as a wing-back. Selling Mitrovic would be madness. I’m confident that he will force his way back in, maybe as soon as this weekend.
I think that Loftus-Cheek is doing nothing at all. Slow, no vision, poor control and cannot shoot straight. Agree that Cav just is not the man to lead the attack. Replace those two with Mitro and Cairney and switch Lookman to the right to let Cairney play on the left.
Let’s face It! Parker is not good enough tactically and his selections are a mystery ! The last 3 games before last night have probably saved him, but they were clearly an aberration!
Maybe it was a bit much to expect the same intensity again but the defence seems sorted now which is a huge relief.
I still have no idea what Parker sees in Cav. He was awful in the Championship. Yes he runs around a lot but that is it. His end product is woeful. He offers nothing on set pieces. Give Mitro a go please. No he isnt quick but he can hold the ball up and get on crosses. Cav will not score the goals we need to stay up. It is as simple as that.
RLC v Cairney is a close call. I’d probably persevere with RLC for a bit but it’s getting close to the point where he has had his chance
The idea that Parker doesn’t have a clue tactically when he’s just outsmarted Rodgers and Klopp is laughable.